France has firmly reiterated its support for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) initiative to place natural resource governance at the forefront of United Nations Security Council discussions. This pivotal move also aims to address shortcomings in the international normative framework concerning war economies. The initiative seeks to foster a more cohesive approach to natural resource management, transforming it into a catalyst for peace, accelerating the global energy transition, stimulating digital transformation, and bolstering the resilience of global supply chains.

During an Arria-formula meeting held in New York on Monday, July 13, 2026, at Kinshasa’s behest, Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, underscored that natural resources now constitute a critical international peace and security challenge. He observed that the competition for control over these vital resources remains a primary driver of contemporary conflicts. Such competition not only fuels instability but also serves as a significant funding source for armed actors and illicit exploitation networks.

“Indeed, this is a fundamental issue that the Congolese presidency of the Security Council has rightly placed at the heart of our discussions: the intrinsic link between natural resources and peace, which is central to numerous conflict situations and crises. This is precisely why the Council has intensified its scrutiny of this matter, notably during a meeting under the American presidency last March, and at an Arria-formula session organized by Sierra Leone a year ago. How can we deny it? The competition for controlling natural resources acts both as a factor of conflict and instability, and as a revenue stream for far too many actors, both local and international, engaged in their illegal exploitation,” he stated.

Bonnafont particularly emphasized the situation on the African continent, where, he noted, natural wealth continues to be plundered to benefit armed groups or external interests.

“This observation is particularly pertinent on the African continent, where riches are subjected to pillaging by such actors, who exploit them to finance their activities or orchestrate their capture for the benefit of external powers. This illegal appropriation of resources fuels conflicts, exacerbates violence, and perpetuates the suffering of civilian populations. This is evident in Sudan, where the ongoing conflict is sustained by the plundering of gold and gum arabic, as documented by expert group reports,” he continued.

Addressing the situation in eastern DRC, the French representative directly implicated the M23 in the exploitation of mineral resources. The diplomat highlighted that Congolese populations have endured the consequences of this illicit exploitation for many years.

“This is also the case in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the M23 controls between 15% and 30% of the world’s coltan production through the Rubaya site, thereby financing its illegal administration, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese people have suffered for too long from the predation on their mineral resources, perpetrated by external actors and armed groups,” he affirmed.

France also renewed its call for adherence to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773. Jérôme Bonnafont stressed the imperative to end hostilities, secure the withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces from Congolese territory, cease Rwandan support for the M23, and continue the neutralization of the FDLR.

He further reminded that this resolution advocates for strengthening the fight against illicit natural resource exploitation through international transparency and traceability mechanisms for minerals.

“France once again urges all parties to comply with Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands an immediate cessation of hostilities, the effective withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces from Congolese territory, an end to Rwandan support for the M23, and the effective neutralization of the FDLR by the Democratic Republic of Congo. This resolution also calls, I reiterate, for redoubled efforts to combat the illicit exploitation of natural resources, notably by mobilizing transparency and traceability mechanisms for mineral exports,” the French diplomat emphasized during his address.

“The Council must utilize the tools at its disposal in conflict situations exacerbated by the illicit trafficking of natural resources. Several expert groups play an invaluable role in documenting these dynamics and their contribution to financing destabilizing activities, particularly in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. Associated sanctions regimes must be deployed whenever necessary to sever the link between the pillaging of natural resources and the financing of conflict actors.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to pursue activities outlined under its presidency of the Security Council. This meeting on natural resources follows a Council briefing dedicated to conflict-related sexual violence, held on July 8 under the presidency of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. This diplomatic sequence aligns with the priorities set by the Congolese presidency. The briefing notably highlighted the human cost of war economies and the urgent need to enhance prevention, protect survivors, combat impunity, and establish reparation mechanisms.

These initiatives unfold amidst a strategic partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States concerning critical minerals, as well as the Washington Agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali. This agreement includes provisions for de-escalation measures, the gradual withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory, and the neutralization of armed groups operating in eastern DRC, particularly the FDLR, which Kigali perceives as a security threat. Despite this diplomatic framework, widely lauded upon its signing, the security situation remains extremely precarious. On the ground, the Doha process, facilitated by the State of Qatar to foster dialogue between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, also remains deadlocked.

The AFC/M23 rebels, whom Kinshasa, the United Nations, and several international partners accuse of receiving Rwandan support, maintain control over the cities of Goma and Bukavu, alongside numerous other localities in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Clashes persist in various areas, while diplomatic efforts struggle to yield enduring results. This situation once again underscores the persistent disparity between announced diplomatic breakthroughs and the stark reality observed on the ground.